Multi-print control means in address printing machines



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MULTI-PRINT CONTROL MEANS IN ADDRESS PRINTING MACHINES 1 Filed May 29, 1953 7 Sheeis-Sheet 7 ham? .ll! 1|||l|| llll llllll llllllll |||||ll|||L rllxllllll ll||||||| MULTI-PRINT CONTROL MEANS EN ADDRESS PRINTING MACS Robert L. Wagner, Willoughby, Ohio, assignor to Addressograph-Multigraph Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application May 29, 1953, Serial No. 358,236

12 Claims. (Cl. 101-56) This invention relates to printing machines and particularly to printing machines of the kind in which printed impressions are made from individual printing devices that are passed sequentially through the machine.

Printing machines of the aforesaid character are adapted for rapid operation to print impressions from the individual printing devices that are passed therethrough, and in the past such machines have been capable of operation in what has been termed consecutive operation in that a single impression is made from each printing device or from selected ones of such printing devices, or such machines have been operable in what has been termed duplicate or multi-print operation wherein a predetermined number of printed impressions have been made from each selected printing device. In such duplicate or multi-print operation of printing machines of the aforesaid character, it has been necessary to make the same number of impressions from each printing device that is selected for printing. Situations may arise, however, where it is desirable to print different numbers of printed impressions from the respective printing devices, and to enable this to be accomplished is the primary object of the present invention.

One situation where it may be desirable to print varying numbers of impressions from the respective printing devices arises in those business establishments where credit cards are to be produced through the use of printing devices of the aforesaid character. In such instances the customer to whom the credit card is to be issued may desire to have additional credit cards issued for the other members of his family, and it is a further important object of the present invention to enable printing machines of the aforesaid character to be readily and easily operated to thus produce credit cards and like documents.

It is well known in the art that printing devices of the kind that are passed through machines of the aforesaid character may have identifying means thereon to indicate various facts or data that relate to such printing devices, and one common form of identifying means utilized in such situations is afforded by tabs that may be mounted in any one or more of a plurality of different tab mounting positions along what amounts to the upper edge of the printing device. Such tabs may thus be utilized to indicate whether additional printed impressions are to be made from the printing devices and also to indicate the number of such additional printed impressions. Another and further object of the present invention is to enable identifying means on printing devices to automatically control the operation of the printing machine of the aforesaid character, and a related object is to enable this to be accomplished while at the same time maintaining the printing machine in such condition that it may readily be used for all of its normal functions or modes of operation. Specifically it is an object of the present invention to enable the conventional selector mechanism of a printing machine to automatically govern the feeding movements of printing deice vices and to enable this to be accomplished in a simple and effective manner.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the ap pended claims.

Fig. l is a front to rear cross sectional view taken through a printing machine embodying the features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic plan section taken through the printing machine and illustrating certain of the drive and control elements thereof;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of one of the control units embodied in the machine;

Fig. 4 is a left hand side elevational view of one of the control units;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing the cam of one of the control units;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view showing the storage mechanism of the machine and the elements that are related thereto in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing additional details of the storage mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view showing the storage mechanism;

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view of a control handle that is utilized in setting the storage mechanism;

Figs. 10 to 14 are fragmentary vertical sectional views through the storage mechanism showing the elements thereof in different set positions;

Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional view showing the sensing mechanism of the machine;

Fig. 16 is a schematic view illustrating the printing devices and the arrangement of tabs as the tab arrangement is related to the number of printing impressions to be produced; and

Fig. 17 is a schematic wiring diagram showing the electrical connections utilized under the present invention.

For purposes of disclosure, the invention is herein illustrated as incorporated in a printing machine of the fiat bed type, having a desk-like frame that provides a table top T over which sheets S may be moved and positioned in the course of a printing operation. The printing machine 100 as herein shown is adapted to make printed impressions from printing devices D such as those shown in Fig. 16 of the drawings which are initially placed in a supply magazine M that is aflorded in the printing machine. The printing machine 1-99 is of the kind that is illustrated and described in Carl J. Hueber Patents Nos. 2,359,849, 2,359,850 and 2,359,851, patented October 10, 1944, and reference may be had to such patents for further detail of structure and operation of the machine. The printing devices D are withdrawn one by one from the bottom of the supply magazine M, as described in detail in the aforesaid I-lueber patents, and are advanced to a sensing station shown in Fig. 6 hereof and which embodies a sensing head SH. The advancing movement of the printing devices D is accomplished in a step by step manner such that each printing device D is advanced during the first half of a machine cycle, and remains at rest at one or the other of the several stations along the printing device guideway during the second half of the machine cycle. During such period of rest the printing device D located at sensing station is sensed by the sensing head SH in the manner described in the aforesaid Hueber patents, and under the present invention such sensing operation is utilized to detect the presence of tabs T in one or another of several different positions along the upper edge of such printing devices, and the tabs T are utilized to indicate that more than one impression is to be made from such printing device, and by the position of such tabs, the number of additional impressions is indicated.

Thus, as illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 16 of the drawings, three different tab positions are allocated to control operations that are to be attained under the present invention, and the absence of a tab in all three of such positions, as illustrated in respect to the printing device D-l, indicates that but a single impression is to be made from such printing device, and such impression would be made upon a sheet -1, as indicated opposite the printing device D-l in Fig. 16. Where a tab T2 is located in one of the selected positions as illustrated in respect to the printing device D-2 in Fig. 16, this tab indicates that two impressions are to be made from such printing device, and these two impressions are made on sheets 8-1 and S2, as indicated diagrammatically by such sheets illustrated to the right of the printed device D-2 in Fig. 16.

Where a tab T-3 is mounted in a second one of the selected positions, as illustrated in respect to printing device D-3 in Fig. 16, this indicates that three impressions are to be made from such printing device, and such impressions would be made on sheets Sl, S2 and S3, as indicated on the three sheets located to the right of the printing device D-3 in Fig. 16. If a tab T-4 is disposed in the third one of the selected positions as shown in respect to the printing device D-4 in Fig. 16, this constitutes an indication that four impressions are to be made from such printing device and such impressions will be made on sheets 8-1 to 8-4 that are shown to the right of the printing device D-4 in Fig. 16 of the drawings.

The sensing operation whereby such tabs T are sensed is accomplished through the provision of pins P mounted in the sensing head SH at positions corresponding to the three selected positions in which the tabs T-Z, T3 and T-4 are to be mounted. As shown in Fig. of the drawings, the position that corresponds to the location of the tab T4 is occupied by a medium length pin P-2, the position that is to be occupied by the tab T-3 is occupied by a long pin P-3, while the position in which the tab T-4 is to be located is occupied by an extra long or bell pin P-4.

The principle of operation of the sensing head SH is described in some detail in the aforesaid Hueber Patent No. 2,359,851, and a consideration of such disclosure will show that the sensing of tabs T by the pins P-Z, P-3 and P-4 will locate the sensing head at different levels which, under the present invention, are utilized to control subsequent operation of the machine so as to attain the desired number of impressions from the different printing devices D in accordance with the representations afforded by the tabs T-2, T-3 and T-4.

After the printing devices are sensed by the sensing head SH, they are advanced along the printing device guideway which is described in detail in the aforesaid Hueber Patent No. 2,359,850, and are brought to rest successively at a printing station V, and during the cycle in which each printing device is thus brought to rest at station V, an impression is made therefrom by a platen mechanism P. This platen mechanism P is supported beneath the forward end of a relatively rigid printing frame 104, and while the construction of the printing frame may be varied, I prefer to employ the rigid printing frame shown in Hueber Patent No. 2,275,439, patented March 10, 19 42. The printing frame 104 extends upwardly from the table top T at a point adjacent to the magazine M, and an upper arm 104U extends forwardly and laterally at an angle of substantially 45 with respect to the forward edge of the printing machine so that a head 105 carried on the forward end of the upper arm 104U of the frame 104 is disposed over the printing station V. The lower portion 104L of the printing frame 7 extends forwardly beneath the table top T, and is supported at its front and rear ends by mounting bars 106F- and 106R that form part of the machine frame as described in Hueber Patent No. 2,359,850.

The platen mechanism P includes a platen roller PR which is carried upon and beneath a carriage C that is mounted beneath the head 105 for reciprocating movement in a front to rear direction. Such reciprocating movement is imparted to the carriage C by means including a rocking arm 107 that is driven through a rocking movement each time a printing operation is to be performed. The platen roller PR is supported beneath the carriage C for movement in a generally vertical direction between an upper inactive position and a lower or active position, and, as described in detail in the aforesaid Hueber Patent No. 2,359,849, the arrangement is such that the platen roller PR is in its elevated inactive position when the carriage C is at its rearward or rest position of Fig. l. In the first half of the machine cycle, the carriage C moves in a forward direction, and during this forward stroke the platen roller PR is lowered to its active position. Then in the second half of the machine cycle, the movement of the carriage is reversed, and the platen roller PR has a rolling action imparted thereto through a geared connection, so that a resilient platen face on the roller PR engages the sheet S to press the same downwardly into printing cooperation with the printing device that is then located at the printing position. This causes a printed impression to be made, it being understood that an inking means such as an inked ribbon is provided, as described in the aforesaid Hueber Patent No. 2,359,849.

As described in Hueber Patent No. 2,359,850, the printing machine may be operated through single cycles by the use of a plurality of foot pedals, or may be set for automatic and continuous operation, and the benefits of the present invention may be attained in either mode of operation of the machine, although such benefits are most pronounced where the machine is continuously operated and automatic sheet feed means are associated with the machine. Such automatic sheet feed means may take the form of an automatic feeder for individual sheets, such as the feeder illustrated in Morse Patent No. 2,359,852. In other instances, a lister attachment such as that shown in Hueber Patent No. 2,359,854 may be utilized, or a conventional form of strip lister may be associated with the printing machine 100 when the present invention is to be utilized.

As described in detail in the aforesaid Hueber Patent No. 2,359,850, the various operating elements of the machine are driven from a main drive shaft 200 that is operated through a one revolution cyclein each cycle operation of the machine, and the platen mechanism P and the printing device feed mechanism may be operated in each cycle or one or the other of these mech anisms may be operated in a cycle through the use of one revolution control clutches 251 and 252. Thus, the clutch 251 constitutes the printing device feed clutch and in each one revolution cycle, the clutch 251 acts to drive the printing device feed mechanism through an advancing or feeding cycle. The structure and operation of the clutch 251, and its relationship to the other elements of the machine, are described in the aforesaid Hueber Patent No. 2,359,850, and for present purposes, such clutch is illustrated and will be described only insofar as its structure, operation and control are essential to an understanding of the present invention. Thus the printing device feed clutch 251 has a driving eccentric ,associated therewith whereby a connecting rod 251R is effective to impart rocking movement to an operating arm 251A of the printing device feeding mechanism. This operating arm 251 A is fixed on a rock shaft 261, and a second operating arm 251B is fixed on this shaft near the right hand end of the machine, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. These arms 251A and 2513 serve as motion transmitting means for operating elements of the printing device feed means, as described in the aforesaid Hueber Patent No. 2,359,850.

The clutch 251 is adapted to be disconnected through the action of any one of a plurality of stop levers 2518 and 25152, and these stop levers are mounted on a supporting pivot shaft 263, as shown in Fig. 1, so that they may be moved between retracted or inactive positions and effective positions wherein either one of such stoplevers will be effective to disconnect the printing device feed clutch 251, thus to render the printing device feed mechanism inactive.

The other clutch 252 constitutes the platen clutch, and its operation is described in detail in the aforesaid Hueber Patents Nos. 2,359,849 and 2,359,850. This clutch is adapted to be controlled by either one of two stop levers 252$ and 25282, and for present purposes it is sufiicient to state that control operation is attained in the manner described in the two Hueber patents just mentioned. The platen clutch 252 operates through an eccentric and connecting rod 252?. to impart rocking movement to a platen operating rock shaft 296, and it might be noted that this rock shaft is identified by this same reference character in Hueber Patent No. 2,359,851. The shaft 296 is moved through a rocking movement in each one revolution cycle of the clutch 252, the connecting rod 252R being associated with the rock shaft 296 through an arm 295' that is fixed on the rock shaft 296. Such rocking movement is transmitted to the arm 167 through a vertical link 297 and an arm 29% that is fixed on a shaft 299 which carries the arm 197.

in automatically controlling the number of impressions made from each printing device, the present invention utilizes the selector mechanism that is described in the doresaid Hueber Patent No. 2,359,851, and this selector .iechanism includes a storage drum 670. It will be noted that this storage drum 678 is identified by this same reference character in the aforesaid Hueber Patent No. 2,359,851, reference may be had to such patent for auditionm details of structure and operation of the storage drum and the. related mechanisms. For present purposes, it to be pointed out that this storage drum 674) has a plurality of longitudinally settable storage plungers 672 disposed at equally spaced points around its periphery, and these storage plungers 672 are moved or set while they are in their lowermost positions with respect to the drum axis, and are thereafter advanced by indexing movements of the drum to different positions in timed relation to the advancing movement of the printing devices so as to move into an upper or control position wherein they are normally effective to impart rocking control movement to a print-skip control lever 77%, or other control elements as described in the aforesaid Hueber Patent cJn-trol lever 77% serves as an operating means nt-skip control mechanism. of the machine, and tive to disengage the platen clutch 252 in those cycles of machine operation where the printing device is to be skipped. it will be understood, of course, that in the use of the resent invention, the print-skip lever 779 is rendered ineffective by setting the machine for bell operation, which moves the lever 77% to its ineffective position. It should be pointed out, however, that the lever 776 has a link 785 connected thereto at its upper end through a spring or yielding connection 791 that is described in detail in the aforesaid Hueber Patent No. 2,359,851, and this link 7 35 has its other or rear end connected by means of a block 786 to an arm 787. This arm 787 is fixed on the control shaft 783, and the normal 6 operation of this structure to cause skip operation is to rock the shaft 783 by the application of a yielding force in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 6.

The setting movements of the storage plungers 672 are attained through the action of the sensing head SH which is, in turn, controlled by the presence or absence of tabs T in selected positions on the printing device Dthat is at sensing station. This controlling operationis described in detail in the aforesaid Hueber Patent No. 2,359,851, but for present purposes, it may be noted that where no tab is sensed, the storage plunger 672 is moved longitudinally from a restored or left hand position on the drum to the position shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings; when a tab is sensed by a regular length pin (not shown), the storage plunger 672 is moved to the position shown in. Fig. 11 of the drawings; when a tab T is sensed by an intermediate length pin P-2, the storage plunger 672 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 12; when a tab is sensed by a long pin P3, the storage plunger 672 is moved to :the position shown in Fig. 13; while sensing of a tab by an extra long pin P-4 moves the storage plunger 672 to the position shown in Fig. 14.

As described in the aforesaid Hueber Patent No. 2,359,851, the storage plungers, when set in the position shown in Fig. 12, cooperate with a control lever 766, and when set in the position shown in Fig. 13, cooperate with a control lever 765, and in addition to this, the setting of a control plunger in the position shown in Fig. 11 would, in most normal uses of the machine, cause such storage plunger to cooperate with the print-skip control lever 770, it being noted that in many normal uses of the machine such control lever 770 is located in the position shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings through a setting adjustment of a mounting pivot shaft 771, which carries control lever 770. While the normal operations of these parts of the mechanism are described in detail in the aforesaid Hueber Patent No. 2,359,851, it is to be pointed out that in the use of the improvement which constitues the present invention, the mounting shaft 771 is set to the position that is shown in Figs. 11 to 14, this being described in the aforesaid Hueber patent as constituting the bell setting of the machine, and serving to render the control lever 770 ineffective to govern the print-skip operation of the machine. The machine will thus make a printed impression in each cycle of machine operation. Furthermore, it should be pointed out that it is desirable in utilizing the machine under these circumstances to shift the bell latch lever 824 to its effective or latching position, as described in the aforesaid Hueber Patent No. 2,359,851, so as to prevent sounding of the signal bell 810, which would tend normally to take place under certain conditions in the operation of the machine.

The setting of the plunger 771 to the position shown in Figs. 11 to 14 is accomplished by a control shaft 771C, which is withdrawn to the position shown in Figs. 8 and 9 so as to shift an operating arm 771A from the full line position to the dotted line position of Fig. 8, thus to shift the control lever 779 from the position of Fig, 10 to the position of Fig. 11.

The storage drum 676 is operated through advancing or indexing movements by means of a pawl 67% that is eccentrioally pivoted at one end on the arm 251B of the printing device advancing means, and this pawl 678 has a pin 677 that is adapted to engage the teeth of a ratchet wheel 676 that is fixed on the central mounting shaft of the storage drum 670. The arrangement of the ratchet and pawl drive mechanism for the storage drum 670 is such that the storage drum is advanced or indexed during the first half of the machine cycle when the printing devices are being moved through their advancing movement, as described in Hueber Patent No. 2,359,851. After the storage drum 670 has been advanced in a particular cycle of the machine, the downward or sensing movement of the sensing head SH takes place in the last half of the machine cycle, and in accordance with the tab or tabs rte-a t on the printing device at sensing station, the sensing head moves downwardly in different amounts. This differential movement of the sensing head is effective through cam control means described in Hueber Patent No. 2,351,851 to impart different or difierential setting movements to a setting arm 721, which imparts a corresponding setting movement to the storage plunger 672 that is located at the lowermost position with respect to the drum axis.

Since the present invention makes use of an element of the multi-print mechanism of the machine that is described in aforesaid Hueber Patent No. 2,359,850, such multi-print mechanism will be described in partial detail herein, and particularly will be described in respect to the Way in which portions of this mechanism are utilized under the present invention so that all of the normal control functions of the multi-priut mechanism are preserved for use in the machine, even though such portions of the multi-print mechanism are utilized in the accomplishment of the purposes of the present invention. Such multiprint mechanism is also disclosed in Hueber Patent No. 2,359,851, and, as described in such patent, this multiprint mechanism is inter-related with the selector mechanism so that the selector mechanism is effective to perform its selecting function in consecutive operation of the machine, or in duplicate or other multi-print operation of the machine. As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a multi-print control rocker 795 is mounted in the machine for rocking movement about a central mounting shaft 7958, and a spring 795A is effective to urge the rocker 795 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, so that a roller 432 on one arm 431 of the rocker is held in contact with the periphery of a multi-print cam 433 that is mounted for indexing movement on an axis 441. The rocker 795 also has an arm 795C fixed thereon, and this arm has a rod 795R extended downwardly therefrom and connected through a yielding spring means to the stop lever 2515-2, so that when the control rocker 795 is rocked in a counterclockwise direction from its position of Fig. 1, the stop lever 2518-2 will be moved to its efiective position. This serves to disengage the printing device feed clutch 251, thus to prevent operation of the printing device feed means and maintain the printing devices in the same position in the next cycle of machine operation. In the use of the multi-print mechanism, as described in Hueber Patent No. 2,359,850, this functioning is controlled by the form of the cam 433, and this cam, as shown in Fig. 1, is arranged for duplicate operation so that in advancing or indexing movements of the cam 433, the feeding of the printing device will be suppressed in alternate machine cycles. The multi-print cam is advanced in each cycle of operation of the platen P by means of a pawl 444, which is associated with the platen rock shaft 296, as described in Hueber Patent No. 2,359,851.

The rocker 795 has an arm 795D thereon, which extends rearwardly and has a downwardly extending link 796 connected thereto. This link has a slot 798 in its lower end that engages a pin 799 on an arm 806 that is fixed on a print skip control shaft 783. It should be pointed out that this control shaft 783 is yieldingly urged in a clockwise direction in Fig. 6 (counterclockwise in Fig. 1) when a skip operation of the machine is to be accomplished in normal use of such machine, and the rocker 795 acts through the link 797 to coordinate the controlling action of the shaft 733 when the machine is being used for duplicate or other multi-print work. This functioning of the multi-print control is maintained when the present invention is utilized.

Under and in accordance with the present invention, the sensing of the tabs T in the selected positions, as described hereinbefore with respect to Fig. 16, is effective to govern the operation of the printing device feed mechanism, and particularly the clutch 251 for the number of machine cycles required to produce the indicated number of impressions from each printing device. In accomplishing this result, the rocker795 is utilized and is actuated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, by means of a solenoid MS. This solenoid MS is mounted on a bracket 900 on a depending supporting plate 901 that is suspended from the rear cross bar 106R of the machine frame. The armature of the solenoid MS has the lower end of a link 902 connected thereto, and the upper end of the link 902 has a slot 902$ formed longitudinally therein. A connecting pin 9tl2P extends through the slot 9828 and is mounted in the end of the arm 795D. Thus, by actuation of the solenoid MS, the desired counterclockwise rocking movement may be imparted to the rocker 795, thus to disengage the printing device feed clutch 251, and by reason of the pin and slot connection of the link 902 to the arm 795D, the rocker 795 may be freely operated through its control movements when the multiprint mechanism is being ul-tilized.

The solenoid MS is controlled through the action of the sensing head SH, so that it may be responsive to the presence of tabs T1 to T4 to cause printing of the indicated number of impressions from the printing devices that are thus tabbed. In accomplishing this controlled energization of the solenoid MS, a plurality of control units CU2, CU3 and CU4 are provided, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, and are mounted in a suspended relationship on a mounting plate 905 just forwardly of the platen actuating rock shaft 296, as will be evident in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The several control units CU2 to CU4 are generally similar in construction, and therefore the control unit CU4 will be described as being representative of the general construction of these units. Thus the control unit CU4, Figs. 3 and 4, comprises a mounting bracket 906-4, and this mounting bracket has opposite side walls 9968 that are connected at their upper ends by a horizontal top wall 906T. Between the two side walls, a ratchet and cam unit is rotatably mounted on a horizontal axis 9fi7. This unit comprises a ratchet wheel 908-4 that has twelve teeth and a connected cam disk 969-4 which is rotated in unison with the ratchet wheel 908-4. As to the control unit CU4, the cam disk 909-4 has three equally spaced lob-es with three intermediate recesses, and the edge of the cam 909-4 is arranged to be engaged by cam roller 910 that constitutes the operating element of a control switch CS-4 that is shown in Figs. 1 and 17 of the drawings. This switch CS-4 contains two pairs of normally open switch contacts which, as shown in Fig. 17 of the drawings, afford a control switch CS-4C and a holding switch CS-4H. The arrangement is such that when the cam rollor 919 is engaged with one of the cam recesses, the two pairs of switch contacts of the switch (IS-4 are open, and when the roller 910 is engaged with a cam lobe, these two pairs of switch contacts are closed.

The unit CU4 is operatively associated with the platen operating rock shaft 296 so that the cam 909-4 may be indexed through a 30 degree indexing movement each time the platen P is operated, and this advancing movement of the control cam 909-4 takes place in the first half of the machine cycle. To this end, the rock shaft 296 has an arm 912-4 fixed thereon and extended downwardly and slightly rearwardly therefrom, as will be evident in Fig. 1. At the lower end of the arm 912-4, the rear end of a pawl 913-4 is pivoted, and this pawl extends forwardly. At its forward end, the pawl has a pin 914-4 that is arranged so that the pawl may be moved downwardly and into such a position that it will operatively engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 908-4. The pawl 913-4 is normally maintained in a raised or ineffective position, and is adapted to be moved downwardly to an effective position when it is desired to impart indexing movement to the cam 909-4. For this purpose, an operating arm 915-4 is pivoted intermediate its ends at 916-4 on the pawl 913-4, and a pin 917-4 on the rear end of the arm 915-4 overlies the upper edge of the pawl 913-4. A spring 918-4 acting between the pin 917-4 and a pin 919-4 on the pawl 913-4 tends to urge the arm 915-4 to the position shown in Fig. 1. A spring 920-4 acting between a forward portion of the lever 915-4 and the top wall 906T serves to raise the arm 915-4 and the pawl 913-4 to a normal inelfective position. When it is desired to render the pawl 913-4 effective, a solenoid Sol-4 that is mounted on one of the side walls 906S is energized. The solenoid Sol-4 has its armature con nected to the lower end of a link 922, and at its upper end a pin 923 extends from the link 922 through a longitudinal slot 924 formed in the link 915-4. Thus the operation of the solenoid Sol-2 serves to rock the arm 915-4 downwardly, and by reason of the pivotal connection 916-4 and the action of the spring 918-4, this actuation is yielding in character so as to allow for return movement of the pawl 913-4 in a rearward direction after it has been operated through a forward or actuating stroke. It will also be noted that the slot 924 permits the necessary reciprocating movement of the arm 915-4 in the course of the rocking movement of the rock shaft 296.

The units CU-Z and CU-3 are the same as the unit CU-4, with the exception that the control cams thereof are provided with a different number of cam lobes and recesses. Thus, with respect to the control units CU-3 and with particular reference to Fig. 17 of the drawings, it will be noted that this control unit has a cam 909-3 that has four equally spaced cam lobes with intermediate recesses. The cam lobes of the cam 909-3 have twice the length of the cam lobes of the cam 909-2, the cam recesses being of the same size in each of these two cams. With respect to the control unit CU-2, the cam 909-2 has six cam lobes that are equally spaced and of a length equal to one-third the length of the cam lobes in the cam 909-4 and these six relatively short cam lobes are separated by recesses that are of the same size as the recesses in the other two cams. The actuating pawls in the control units CU-3 and CU-2 are of the same structure as in the unit CU-4 and are rendered effective by solenoids Sol-3 and Sol-2 respectively.

The solenoids Sol-2 to Sol-4 are arranged to be energized in accordance with the setting of the storage plungers 672, and for this purpose, control levers L-2, L-3 and L-4 are mounted on a pivotal axis 930 rearwardly of the storage drum 670, as will be evident in Figs. 6 and 7. The control levers have forwardly projecting upper ends having cam surfaces 930A formed thereon so that these cam surfaces may be engaged by the projecting lobes of appropriately set plungers 672 as they move from the upper position shown in Fig. 6 to the next poslt on in a clockwise direction, such engagement of course being dependent upon the setting of the storage plungers. The cam surfaces 930A of the several levers L2 to L4 are so arranged that the lever L2 will be engaged when a storage plunger is set in the position shown in Fig. 12; the lever L3 will be engaged when the storage plunger is set in position of Fig. 13; while the lever L4 will be engaged when the storage plunger is set in the position shown in Fig. 14. The several levers L2, L3 and L4 are urged in a counter clockwise direction, Fig. 6, by springs 932 to a position that is limited by a stop rod 933. When one of the levers L2 to L4 is engaged on its cam surface 930A by an apprporiately set storage plunger 672, such lever Wlll be operated through a clockwise movement to the dotted lme position shown in Fig. 6, and when this is done, the lever will serve to close a related switch that will act to close an energizing circuit to the related one of the solenoids Sol-2 to Sol-4. Thus, in Figs. 2, 6 and 7, it will be noted that three switches SW2, SW3 and SW4 are mounted beneath the storage drum 670, and the lower ends of the levers L2 and L4 are bent outwardly away from each other so that all of these levers will, when rocked by the action of the storage plungers, serve to engage and operate the related one of these three switches SW2 to SW4.

In Fig. 17 of the drawings, a schematic wiring diagram is shown which illustrates the manner of association of 19 the electrical elements that have just been described. Thus the main starting switch 950 of the machine is arranged, when closed, to extend circuit through a pair of leads 951 and 952 that extend to a control or off-on switch 953.

When the switch 953 is closed, circuit is extended to supply terminals 954 and 955 for rendering the mechanism of the present invention efiective. Circuit is extended from the terminal 954 by a wire 956, and a branch lead 957 extends from this lead 956 to one terminal of the solenoid MS. A branch lead 958 extends circuit from the wire 956 to one terminal of the solenoid Sol-2; a branch lead 959 extends circuit from the wire 956 to one terminal of the solenoid Sol-3, while the wire 956 is connected to one terminal of the solenoid Sol-4. From the terminal 955, a wire 960 is extended with a branch lead 961 connected to one contact of the switch CS4H, and a further branch lead 962 connected to the one terminal of the switch CS4C. The wire 960 is similarly connected by wires 963 and 964 to the switches CS3H and C530, while similar wires 965 and 966 connect the wire 960 to one terminal of each of the switches CSZH and 082C. The other contacts of the switch CS2C, CS3C and 0840, are connected by a common wire 967 to the other terminal of the solenoid MS, so that upon closure of any one of these three switches, the solenoid MS will be energized. The terminal 955 also has a wire 968 extended therefrom to one contact of each of the switches SW2, SW3 and SW4. The other contact of the switch SW2 is connected by a wire 972 to the other terminal of the solenoid Sol-2; the other terminal of the switch SW-3 is connected by a wire 973 to the other terminal of the solenoid Sol-3; while the other terminal of the switch SW4 is connected by a wire 974 to the other terminal of the solenoid Sol-4. Hence, closure of any one of the switches SW-2, SW-3 or SW-4 will cause the corresponding one of the solenoids Sol-2, Sol-3 or Sol-4 to be energized. The wire 972 is connected by a wire 982 to the other contact of the switch CS-2H; the other contact of the switch CS-3H is connected by a wire 983 to the wire 973; while the other contact of the switch CS-4H is connected by a wire 984 to the wire 974. These connections serve to afford a holding circuit for the related solenoids Sol-2 to Sol-4, so that when one of the control units is rendered operative, the solenoid thereof will be maintained energized until the cam 909 of this unit has been operated through the required number of cycles to bring the next cam recess into alignment with the related switch controlling roller. The switch CS-ZC, CS-3C or CS-4C that has been effective or closed will simultaneously open at this time, thus to deenergize the solenoid MS and allow the control rocker 595 to return to its normal position. This, of course, withdraws the stop lever 251S-2 to its inefiective position so that the printing device feed clutch 251 will engage and feeding of printing devices will be resumed.

Operation When the present invention is to be utilized so as to print different numbers of impressions from printing de vices in accordance with a tabbed indication carried by such printing devices, the machine is set for bell operation, the bell striker is latched in its ineifective position, and the desired form of sheet or strip feeding means is associated with the machine. When the properly tabbed printing devices D have been placed in the magazine M, the machine may be started in its automatic operation, and by reason of the bell setting of the selector mechanism, the machine will be operative to produce at least one impression from each printing device D that is fed through the machine. In respect to those printing devices that have tabs such as the tabs T2, T3 and T4 thereon to indicate that added impressions should be made therefrom the selector mechanism will be eifective to sense such tabs and to set the successive control or storage plungers 672 in different longitudinal or set positions that 11, are representative of the number of impressions that are to be made from the related printing device. In the cycle where such a printing device is being moved into printing position, the related storage plunger 672 will engage the related control lever L2, L3 or L4 so as to set the related one of the control units, CU2 to CU4, into operation. This is accomplished by energization of the solenoid Sol2, Sol-3 or Sol-4, and the operating pawl 913 of the unit is rendered effective. This effectiveness of the pawl 913 causes the cam unit of the particular control unit to be advanced in the first half of the machine cycle, thus to cause the solenoid MS to be energized. This is effective to impart rocking movement to the rocker 795 so as to shift the stop lever 25152 into its effective position. This disengages the plate feed clutch 251 at the end of this particular cycle of the machine, and hence the printing device feed mechanism will be maintained inactive in the next machine cycle. The cam unit CU of the control unit that is thus in operation also establishes a holding circuit for the solenoids Sol-2 to Sol-4 of such unit, and hence the actuating pawl 913 of this unit will be maintained in its active position in its next cycle of machine operation during which a second impression will be made from the printing device D at printing station. If it is the unit CU-2 that is in operation, the second operation of the platen rock shaft 296 will cause the cam unit to be advanced to its next position, .so that the related swiches will be opened so as to terminate the operation of the unit C2 and de-energize the solenoid MS. The stop lever 25182 will thus move to its ineffective position, and the clutch 251 of the printing device feed will return to its connected relation so that a new printing device will be fed into printing position in the next cycle of machine operation.

The operation with respect to the units CU-3 and CU-4 is similar to that just described, except that the printing device is retained at printing position for additional printing operations.

When the use of the present invention has been completed, the switch 953 is opened so as to disable the apparatus, and the machine may be returned to its normal use through setting of the usual controls, as described in Hueber Patent No. 2,359,851.

Conclusion From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the present invention enables the selector mechanism of a printing machine to govern the number of impressions to be made from printing devices in accordance with indieating or identifying means carried by such printing devices. Under this invention the number of impressions that may automatically be made under control of the selector may be varied quite widely, and this desirable result is attained in the printing machine while at the same time preserving all of the normal functions and capabilities of such machine.

Thus, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that these are capable of variation and modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

Iclaim:

1. In a printing machine through which individual printing devices are to be passed in a step by step manner such that the printing devices come to rest successively at printing position in the machine, impression means operable to produce impressions from printing devices at printing position, certain of said printing devices, from which more than one impression is to be made, having identifying means positioned thereon in identifying positions indicative of the number of impressions to be made therefrom, feed means normally operable to feed a new printing device to printing position for each opera- 12 tion of said impression means, means to interrupt normal operation of the feed means when a printing device is to be held at printing position for more than one impression, selector mechanism embodying means allocated to the sensing of said identifying means and which serve to register the number of impressions to be taken from a sensed printing device, a plurality of individually operable timers allocated respectively to the different numbers of impressions that may be made and each adapted to render said interrupting means effective for the length of time required for the number of impressions to be made from any one printing device at printing position as aforesaid, and means to transmit the result of sensing to the timer corresponding to the number of impressions indicated and to render such timer effective with respect to said interrupting means.

2. In a printing machine through which individual printing devices are to be passed in a step by step manner such that the printing devices come to rest at sensing and printing positions in the machine, impression means operable to produce impressions from printing devices at printing position, certain of said printing devices, from which more than one impression is to be made, having identifying means positioned thereon in identifying positions indicative of the number of impressions to be made therefrom, feed means normally operable to feed a new printing device to printing position for each operation of said impression means, means to interrupt normal operation of the feed means when a printing device is to be held at printing position for more than one impression, selector mechanism embodying sensing elements in different positions corresponding to and for sensing the respective positions of said ifentifying means that are indicative of the number of impressions to be made from the printing devices, each such sensing element being associated with a timer whereby upon activation of a particular sensing element its timer is actuated to render effective said interrupting means to hold a printing device at printing position for as many impressions as are indicated by the identifying means on the printing device thus at printing position.

3. in a printing machine through which printing devices may be passed in a step by step manner such that the printing devices come to rest at sensing and printing positions in the machine, impression means including drive means and operable to produce printing impressions from printing devices at printing position, certain of said printing devices from which more than one impression is to be made, having identifying positions indicative of the number of impressions who made therefrom, plate feed means normally operable to feed a new printing device to printing position for each operation of said impression means, selector mechanism embodying sensing means at said sensing position for sensing the identifying means of said printing devices, a plurality of normally inactive control units each adapted to be operated by said impression drive means and respectively operable to control said plate feed means to maintain printing devices at said printing position for different numbers of machine cycles, and means governed by said selector unit for rendering said control units active selectively in accordance with the sensed identifying means of such printing devices.

4. In a printing machine through which printing devices may be passed in a step by step manner such that the printing devices come to rest at sensing and printing positions in the machine, impression means including drive means and operable to produce printing impressions from printing devices at printing position, certain of said printing devices from which more than one impression. is to be made, having identifying positions indicative of the number of impressions to be made therefrom, plate feed means normally operable to feed a new printing device to printing position for each operation of said impression -means, selector mechanism embodying sensing. means at said sensing position for sensing the identifying means of said printing devices, a plurality of normally inactive control units respectively operable to control said plate feed means to maintain printing devices at said print ing position for different numbers of machine cycles, normally ineffective individual drive connections from said impression drive means to the respective control units, and means governed by said selector unit for rendering said individual trive connections effective selectively in accordance with the sensed identifying means of such printing devices.

5. in a printing machine having printing and sensing positions through which printing devices, each adapted to bear identifying means at one or more positions thereon, are adapted to be advanced in series from a supply magazine to said sensing and printing positions, selector mechanism including sensing means disposed at said sensing position, platen mechanism at said printing position operable to produce a printed impression from a printing device at printing position, advancing means operable to advance printing devices one by one to said printing position, independently operable actuating means each including a one-revolution clutch for driving said advancing means and said platen mechanism, normally inactive automatic multi-print control means operable in its active adjustment to disconnect the clutch of said advancing means in selected sequence in successive machine cycles to cause a predetermined number of printed impressions to be made from each printing device, and a normally inactive governing means governed by said selector and operable, when said control means is inactive and said governing means is active, to disconnect said clutch of said advancing means in response to sensed identifying means to effect selector control of the number of printed impressions made from such printing devices.

6. In a printing machine having sensing and printing positions and through which printing devices, each adapted to bear identifying means at one or more positions thereon, are adapted to be advanced in series from a supply magazine to said sensing and printing positions, selector mechanism including sensing means disposed at said sensing position, platen mechanism including driving means and operable in each cycle of its operation to produce a printing impression from a printing device at printing position, printing device advancing means operable in its cycles of operation to advance printing devices one by one to said sensing and printing positions, independently operable actuating means for said advancing means and said platen mechanism, manually settable means normally operable to initiate concurrent operation of said actuating means, and a plurality of normally inactive control units each including a replaceable cam and respectively operable when active to disable said advancing means for respectively different numbers of machine cycles, and selector controlled means for rendering said control units effective selectively in accordance with the sensed identifying means.

7. In a printing machine having sensing and printing positions and through which printing devices, each adapted to bear identifying means at one or more positions thereon, are adapted to be advanced in series from a supply magazine to said sensing and printing positions, selector mechanism including sensing means disposed at said sensing position, platen mechanism including driving means and operable in each cycle of its operation to produce a printing impression from a printing device at printing position, printing device advancing means operable in its cycles of operation to advance printing devices one by one to said sensing and printing positions, independently operable actuating means for said advancing means and said platen mechanism, manually settable means normally operable to initiate concurrent operation of said actuating means, and a plurality of normally inactive control units each including a replaceable cam and respectively operable when active to disable said advancing means for respectively different numbers of machine cycles, individual 14 actuating means for said units adapted to be connected to said platen driving means for driving the respective assemblies, and selector controlled means for effecting connection of said units selectively to said platen driving means for rendering said control units effective selectively in accordance with the sensed identifying means.

8. In a printing machine through which a series of printing devices, each adapted to bear identifying means in one or more predetermined positions thereon, are passed one by one to sensing and printing positions, platen mechanism at said printing position operable through a printing cycle to produce a printed impression from a printing device at printing position, drive means for said platen mechanism, selector mechanism including sensing means disposed at said sensing position, printing device advancing means operable in each cycle of its operation to advance a different printing device to printing position, manually settable means normally operable when actuated to concurrently initiate operation of said platen mechanism and said printing device advancing means in predetermined cyclic relation such that but a single printing operation is performed from each printing device, disabling means for disabling said printing device advancing means when a printing device is to be maintained at printing position for the performance of additional printing operations therefrom, a normally ineffective control unit operable when effective to render said disabling means active for a predetermined time whereby to render the machine operative to produce a selected number of printing impressions from a particular printing device, and means operable under control of said selector to render said unit effective in response to sensing of predetermined identifying means on a particular printing device.

9. In a print-ing machine through which printing devices may be passed in a step by step manner such that the printing devices come to rest at sensing and printing positions in the machine, impression means including drive means and operable to produce printing impressions from printing devices at printing position, certain of said printing devices from which more than one impression is to be made having identifying positions indicative of the number of impressions to be made therefrom, plate feed means normally operable to feed a new printing device to printing position for each operation of said impression means, selector mechanism embodying sensing means at said sensing position for sensing the identifying means of said printing devices, a normally inactive control unit operable to control said plate feed means to maintain printing devices at said printing position for more than one machine cycle, a normally ineffective drive connection from said impression drive means to said control unit, and means governed by said selector unit for rendering said drive connection effective in response to the sensing of predetermined identifying means on a printing device.

10. In a printing machine through which printing devices may be passed in a step by step manner such that the printing devices come to rest at sensing and printing positions in the machine, impression means including drive means and operable to produce printing impressions from printing devices at printing position, certain of said printing devices from which more than one impression is to be made having identifying positions indicative of the number of impressions to be made therefrom, plate feed means normally operable to feed a new printing device to printing position for each operation of said impression means, selector mechanism embodying sensing means at said sensing position for sensing the identifying means of said printing devices, a normally inactive control unit operable to control said plate feed means to maintain printing devices at said printing position for a predetermined number of machine cycles, a normally ineffective drive connection from said impression drive means to said control unit, means governed by said selector unit for 15 rendering said drive connection effective in response to the sensing of predetermined identifying means on a printing device, and means in said unit for maintaining the unit operative for said predetermined number of ma chine cycles.

11. In a printing machine having sensing and printing positions and through which printing devices, each adapted to bear identifying means at one or more positions thereon, are adapted to be advanced in series from a supply magazine to said sensing and printing positions, selector mechanism including sensing means disposed at said sensing position, platen mechanism including driving means and operable in each cycle of its operation to produce a printing impression from a printing device at printing position, printing device advancing means operable in its cycles of operation to advance printing devices one by one to said sensing and printing positions, independently operable actuating means for said advancing means and said platen mechanism, means settable to initiate concurrent operation of said actuating means, a plurality of normally inactive control units each including a replaceable cam and respectively operable when active to disable said advancing means for different numbers of machine cycles, selector controlled means for rendering said control units effective selectively in accordance with the sensed identifying means, and means in said units for maintaining the same operative throughout the desired number of cycles of machine operation.

12. In a printing machine having sensing and printing positions and through which printing devices, each adapted to bear identifying means at one or more positions thereon, are adapted to be advanced in series from a supply magazine to said sensing and printing positions, selector mechanism including sensing means disposed at said sensing position, platen mechanism including driving means and operable in each cycle of its operation to produce a printing impression from a printing device at printing position, printing device advancing means operable in its cycles of operation to advance printing devices one by one to said sensing and printing positions, independently operable actuating means for said advancing means and said platen mechanism, manually settable means normally operable to intiate concurrent operation of said actuating means, and a plurality of normally inactive control units each including a replaceable cam and respectively operable when active to disable said advancing means for different numbers of machine cycles, individual actuating means for said units adapted to be connected to said platen driving means for driving the respective assemblies, individual solenoids for effecting connection of said units selectively to said platen driving means for rendering said control units effective, and selector controlled switches for rendering said solenoids selectively in accordance with the sensed identifying means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,481,860 Duncan Jan. 29, 1924 1,578,962 Duncan Mar. 30, 1926 1,982,374 Colyer Nov. 27, 1934 1,992,663 Gollwitzer Feb. 26, 1935 2,002,772 Gollwitzer May 28, 1935 2,059,797 Kirkegaard Nov. 3, 1936 2,065,539 Sand Dec. 29, 1936 2,070,549 Hueber Feb. 9, 1937 2,077,962 Smith Apr. 20, 1937 2,138,649 Weinlich Nov. 29, 1938 2,359,851 Hueber Oct. 10, 1944 2,406,040 Ryan et a1. Aug. 20, 1946 2,414,813 Hueber Jan. 28, 1947 2,616,363 Ostwaldt Nov. 4, 1952 2,623,453 Bernhag Dec. 30, 1952 2,666,383 Presser Ian. 19, 1954 

